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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-11-2003 01:38 PM

sailorjim

Electrical Upgrade

I am in the process of upgrading all of my electrical system.. To date I have 2 six vo;t Trojan T-105 batteries connected in series, a 120 Amp alternator, an extenal regulator, Heat fuse and regualtor, a Heart Link 10 Monitor, a 13 breaker panel with battery amp gauges,and an 8 breaker panel. Later this summer I am going to add a solar panel (120 Volt.) I am also rewiring all circuts. The batteries will provide 225 amps, they are inexpensive and do not weigh like a D4 or D8. The alternator and related equipment was expensive (1027) form Jack Rabbit marine. I sent a list to Sailnet but they did not get back to me in time.

It is a lot of $$ and work but will be worth it as I will be energy independant as I can be. I run an Alder Barbour Super Cold machine, 2 GPS, a JRC Radar, occasionally a 13" TV and sometimes a stereo.

02-18-2003 09:02 AM

el

Electrical Upgrade

It is a Pearson 422. We are adding and replacing most of the electronics. The previous owner did some re-wiring that is suspect.

02-18-2003 09:02 AM

el

Electrical Upgrade

It is a Pearson 422. We are adding and replacing most of the electronics. The previous owner did some re-wiring that is suspect.

02-17-2003 04:43 PM

peterpan2k

Electrical Upgrade

What Kind of boat are you talking about?
Jim

02-15-2003 10:24 AM

el

Electrical Upgrade

peterpan2k

We are about to undertake rewiring our boat. In you estimation, which marine wiring book is the best for those who have limited wiring experience?

Thanks
el

02-12-2003 09:35 PM

peterpan2k

Electrical Upgrade

Hi guys
I just want to add a consideration concerning high amp fuse holders below boards. there highly suseptable to corrosion. especially near the battery. Heavy battery cables are if routed sensibly are fairly invunerable to damage. a fuse bar out of the reach of the elements adn away from or protected from any source of a short may be prefferable. I like circuit breakers because they reset. when you run out of fuses your left with foil.
Jim

02-12-2003 01:00 PM

tsenator

Electrical Upgrade

Windancer, I agree. The proper designs I have seen in many installations actually have high-amp fuses as close to the Positve battery lead as possible to protect against shorts "somewhere downstream".

This does not elliminate the need for distribution circuit breakers. Just ''another'' protection for what "might" happen.

02-12-2003 12:46 PM

windancer2

Electrical Upgrade

In all of the above messages, I have not seen one suggestion to mount a circuit breaker between the batteries and the boat circuit panel. In most boats, the batteries are installed low down in the boat with a battery selector switch alongside. This part is OK. However, the next part of the supply, the cable from the selector switch to the boat''s circuit breaker panel, is a source of danger. Depending on the number of batteries connected, the short circuit current can be in the vicinity of several hundred amps. Enough to burn a hole in the bottom of your boat or anything that the cable is touching.
I have actually installed three circuit breakers in my supply system. One is supplied from my battery selector switch and is rated at fifty amps. This supplies my normal boat circuit breakers for lights, instruments, refrigeration etc. the other two circuit breakers are supplied directly from my house battery and are rated at five amps each. One supplies the auxillary to my stereo radio so that it remembers the radio stations that I have programmed. This way, my favourite stations are always at hand and I don''t have to look for them. The other breaker is also supplied directly from the house battery and supplies my automatic bilge pump. This may seem to be a bit of overkill, but just imagine what can happen to your boat if that main supply cable from your batteries to your circuit panel is damaged? What is going to turn the current off?

01-27-2003 01:05 AM

GordMay

Electrical Upgrade

Perhaps, after reading this, you''ll understand why Tony hired a proffessional Marine electrician.
It''s NOT that difficult, if you KNOW what you''re doing.
Most don''t.
Charlie Wing and Nigel Caulder have written excellent books on the subject, which still leave much to be desired.
I didn''t notice anyone (on this thread) mention a Galvanic Isolator (120VAC Shore Power) - but did note the advice to not connect AC Ground. This can KILL YOU !!!
CONNECT THE AC Ground !!!
Don''t solder joints - crimp and seal with epoxy-lined heat shrink.
Watch for March issue of "Good Old Boat".
Do LOTS of research.
Good luck
Gord

01-21-2003 11:09 AM

thefantasea

Electrical Upgrade

Below is a cut and paste of a section of ABYC website. Considering your goal, this seems like a good place to start.

Boatowner''s Illustrated Handbook of Wiring
Charlie Wing''s book is a user-friendly manual for on-board electrical projects, from fixing loose connections to rewiring your boat. The author de-mystifies the wiring of sail and power boats. DC and AC wiring materials and techniques are all covered, as are batteries, alternators, inverters, generators, corrosion control, and alternate energy installations (solar, wind and water). There are detailed instructions for wiring marine electronics and dozens of weekend projects such as installing cabin and navigation lights, burglar alarms, battery charge indicators, bilge alarms and much more. This 320 page hard bound book contains 450 illustrations.